Crailek comes upon a tower that is black like all the others, but somehow.. different. Somehow, he knows it to be his, just as he knows the Shadowlands to be his..

On the cold black seal of a door were the words engraved: Exsisto curiosus quis vos opto means. Above these was the image of a great dragon devouring.. was it a squid?

Suddenly, there was a shout nearby.

"Hey! You!"

A Conclave soldier dashed towards him, a scolding look on his face.

--


Crailek waves cheerfully to the soldier as though nothing were wrong, then attempts to open the tower and enter.

--

There is a silence, a moment of pressure.. and the seal opens, as Crailek knew it would. Inside, only darkness.

A shot - a crack breaking the acoustic abyss - and Crailek feels a lancing pain in his leg. He feels himself bleeding, stumbles into the Tower, and it is sealed behind him..

(From the Valley of Ten Towers)

Crailek stumbles inside, and curses, putting a hand on his leg to steady it. He looks around the room for anything of use, either to help with his leg, help walk, or just useful.

(How this works, is, you have a certain number of rooms that you need to explore in order to 'clear' the Tower. If you do so, you'll get a reward. It's meant to be a nasty challenge. You can't access the Valley of Ten Towers as well as being in here, as is logical, but you can leave and return - the thing is meant to be done in more than one go. It will be a challenge. You will very possibly die.)

The room is dark, but Crailek can make out the essentials of it; the floor of stone, the walls are stone, and some form of tapestry hides most of them. In the center of the room was a large statue, and Crailek knew that it was himself - but handsomer, buffer, and with his boot crushing the face of a traitor god. To his left were various bookshelves, filled with tomes, and to his right were a handful of nondescript desks.

There are two stairways - one leading down, to the left of the statue, and one leading up, to the right of the statue.

Crailek heads to the right, and the stairs up. He glances at the statue with a little frown as he passes it. Why did it seem as though he were a hero, and that the god under his boot evil? Did something happen before his return? Most strange.

The stairs were made of wood but did not creak, despite their age.

On the second level was a rug bearing the image of a squid. That was all. The rest was empty. On the other side of the room was a door leading to the next room on the level.

Crailek heads to the door with a frown. Certainly a lot less dark and bloody then he expected. And what the hell was with that squid..? Was it him? He didn't look like a squid, did he? He shakes his head, then just concentrates on his surroundings, ignoring the squid questions for now.

The next room contained a giant glass bowl. Within the bowl was only darkness, shadows, water; blue-black in light. It was completely silent. There was another door ahead; Crailek imagines this to be the one leading to a staircase. The room smells damp, and Crailek can faintly hear the drip, drip, drip of water. It was maddening.

Crailek sighs and begins heading to the door for the stairs, and then heads up.

The door, unfortunately, was locked.

Crailek sighs, and walks back over to the water to examine it more closely.

(Why all the sighs?)

Within the bottom of the tank, Crailek could see, was a glittering, silver key. Above it was a strange, multicoloured fish. The rest of the water was dark, and all Crailek could see was glimmers.

((Crailek's feeling weird, I guess.))

Crailek frowns at the fish. "This is your only warning... you try to hurt me, you won't live to regret it..." He then tries to grab the key as quickly as he can.

He grabs the key.

The fish looks up at him.

Expectantly.

Cralek nods to the fish. "Yeah. It's my key, don't worry. I'll give it right back." He begis withdrawing his hand, with the key.

The fish bites him, latches onto his hand. It didn't hurt - not really. It just felt.. strange.

Crailek growls at the fish. "Dammit, dude. What did I just say? That's just rude!" For the moment, he walks over to unlock the door.

Crailek unlocks the door. It swings open, revealing a staircase going up.

Hello there, Lord Father, said the fish mentally.

Crailek begins heading up the stairs. "Hey. How's it going?" He asks the fish, without a moments hesitation as to wonder how a fish would merit, let alone start, a conversation.

The fish seems to squint at him.

Well, it replied, But we have work to do. You must accept your destiny.

The door to the next level was unfortunately locked and chained. Looks like Crailek was stuck with the fish.

Crailek sighs, and looks at the fish. "Alright, You've got me. What is my destiny? And for that matter, what are you, or who, should I say?"